Meredith Herald
April 25, 2001
Campus Opinion
From the
One small win for wildlife
Environmentalists can at last claim a small victory during the
Bush administration. The administration, which has one of the
most anti-environmental Cabinets the U.S. has seen in many years,
announced Sunday (hat it would no longer pursue oil drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in
Alaska.
Throughout his presidential campaign
Editor and the first few months of his presidency.
' ' Bush- and his administration pledged to
find more oil, which they hoped to obtain
chiefly through drilling in Alaska.
But on Sunday. Christine Todd Whitman. Environmental Pro
tection Agency chairperson, announced that the administration
would discontinue its pursuit of congressional approval for the
drilling plan.
The plan hasn't been abandoned because Bush and his Cabinet
have finally learned to respect the natural areas remaining in the
U.S., nor has it been abandoned because environmental activists
have fmally gotten their message through to Bush and his admin
istrators. But it’s been abandoned nonetheless.
In fact. Whitman cited increased congressional opposition as
the main reason the plan has been essentially abandoned. But it's
been abandoned nonetheless.
Environmentalists can feel good knowing that they’ve had some
impact on members of Congress. They can feel that they’ve
accomplished something, that Bush and his administration will not
always get their way.
Though the Bush administration's decision to abandon its
demand for oil drilling in the Alaskan wilderness was not made for
the sake of the environmental issues plaguing the nation. The deci
sion was made because the plan was, in fact, doomed to fail.
But the plan is virtually dead, and environmentalists all over the
country are celebrating though they should not become compla
cent in this small victory. There are many more battles that envi
ronmentalists must fight during the Bush administration, but the
Meredith Herald
Editor in Chief. Leslie Maxwell
Associate Editor. .Christina Holder
Copy Editor. Stephanie Jordan
Layout Editor................... Leesha Austin
News Editor....... Jenny Cosja
Reporters Jennifer Boyce, Laura Collins,
Elizabeth Crowder, Chelsea DeSantis.
Lindsey McAdams, Betsy Rhame,
Christy Sadler, Joni Smith.
Tracy Sumner. Lora Tillman,
Jamie 'ninnell, Tanesha Williams,
Lisa Wilson. Lindsey Wray
Photographers Emily Collins,
Tanesha Williams
Distribution Jennifer Boyce
Subscriptions Chelsea DeSantis, Lindsey Wray
Faculty Adviser. Dr. Rebecca Duncan
TTie Meredith Herald is published by the College throughout the
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Campus forum
Residence Life
director explains
room searches
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to
Mary Caudle’s letter to the edi
tor regarding room searches in
the Apr. 18 issue of the Mered
ith Herald.
Room searches are conduct
ed as a result of suspicious
activity and/or actions by resi
dents. Residence Life staff,
along with Campus Police,
determine whether a search is
necessary or not.
It is not the goal of Resi
dence Life staff to search
rooms; rather the goal is to help
students understand the poli
cies set forth by the College
and the Office of Residence
Life. But when residents dis
play questionable behavior, a
search may be warranted.
One of the more complex
issues in relation to what is
considered “alcohol parapher
nalia” is that of shot glasses, or
as some label them, toothpick
holders.
Yes, the bookstore does sell
shot glasses (which are labeled
as such on the price sticker).
The College has no jurisdiction
over what the store sells
because it is managed by an
outside contractor.
Shot glasses, whether sold in
the campus bookstore or else
where are considered alcohol
paraphernalia by the College
and Residence Life because
their main function is to mea
sure alcohol although they can
serve other puiposes, such as
holding jewelry or toothpicks.
Mary is correct in her belief
that Crown Royal bags should
not be considered alcohol para
phernalia, along with the Abso
lut posters adorning many stu
dents’ walls. The bags will be
retumed-
1 have met with one resident
who was upset about the condi
tion of her room after a room
search, but it seems that there
are other residents who have
similar concerns.
Even though I am still in my
first year as director of Resi
dence Life. I know that there
are Residence Life policies and
procedures that need to be
reviewed and refined each
year. For me to do that, I need
to hear from residents who
have concerns about Residence
Life so that I may gather infor
mation on what needs to be
changed or clarified.
Without the residents’ input,
it is difficult for me to under
stand what improvements need
to be made.
If any resident has a concern
with a policy or procedure
within the residence halls. I
•would encourage them to meet
with me to discuss their con
cern.
Through the gathering of
information, the staff and I can
be better prepared for the next
academic year.
Sincerely,
Heidi LeCount
Director of Residence Life
Please see
CAMPUS FORUM
page seven
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